Luka Modrić on Lionel Messi deserving the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: “You can’t decide the Golden Ball based on just one match. That’s embarrassing. Messi was outstanding throughout the entire tournament. Even though Argentina didn’t win the World Cup, he still deserves the Golden Ball. He carried Argentina, created chances out of nothing, and […]

Luka Modrić on Lionel Messi deserving the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball:

“You can’t decide the Golden Ball based on just one match. That’s embarrassing.

Messi was outstanding throughout the entire tournament. Even though Argentina didn’t win the World Cup, he still deserves the Golden Ball.

He carried Argentina, created chances out of nothing, and was the best player on the pitch in almost every game. One final doesn’t erase everything he accomplished before it.

I’ve played in and watched many World Cups, but the way they’re judging this is completely wrong. You don’t ignore weeks of brilliance and hand the award to someone else because of a single match.

Messi has been the standout player of this tournament by a mile. If that’s not enough to win the Golden Ball, then I don’t know what is anymore.”

Funny how some people who were defending the decision when it didn’t involve Messi have suddenly gone quiet. The standards should be the same for every player. If the Golden Ball is meant to reward the best performer throughout the tournament, then it should be judged consistently not based on one final.